What kind of San Sebastián do we want? Palma calls for a more popular and participatory festival

The fThis one from San Sebastián in Palma For years, it has coexisted with two clearly differentiated realities: the institutional and the popular. It's nothing new, but the evolution of recent years compels us to open a calm - and urgent - reflection on the direction the celebration has taken and, above all, how the needs demanded by each of the proposals that converge around the patron saint festivities are managed.

The response from a segment of the population, who come out to celebrate the festivities in a playful, dedicated, and heartfelt way; who create simple yet highly effective and deeply rooted rituals, and who fill the streets with events reminiscent of a major festival, is a reality that was previously unknown to us in Palma. Going out selflessly, regardless of the weather or other adversities, demonstrates admirable strength and a drive that, until now, we had to seek in other towns and cities in Mallorca. This persistence is not accidental; it is the result of a sense of belonging and a way of understanding the festival as a space for collective participation, not as a spectacle.

The capacity for popular mobilization, outside of official programs but with the necessary collaboration of the City Council, demonstrates an increasingly remarkable effectiveness and growth. It also calls for a review of the municipal conditions and requirements imposed on groups and associations that, altruistically and as amateurs, prepare events that, for some years now, have filled the squares and streets with devotees, sometimes unaware of the difficulties and complications involved in dealing with institutions to organize such events. Municipal procedures should be adapted to facilitate participation. Regulations and municipal ordinances should also take into account the current reality of festivals and the human and material resources available; budgets must consider the increasing requirements for celebrations and the growing number of requests to organize popular street events.

Comprehensive and cross-cutting offer

The popular festival is not, and should not be, a rival to the institutional aspect, and appealing to this dispute can only be understood as a ploy to generate headlines. The desirable new model should prioritize a comprehensive and inclusive offering and recognize popular proposals as equals. The festival week is the ideal space to host high-quality cultural events (it's also a good time to support local artists) and program events that help transmit and reinforce our city's traditions. In Palma, there are people like us who defend traditions as part of our identity and have come to accept and look forward to the concerts that, for more than 30 years, have also been organized on the evening of the festival. We are aware that some citizens expect to go out and enjoy themselves and, later, passively enjoy a musical performance. This is perfectly respectable; it's already one of our city's traditions. But this model, to be consistent with the reality of recent years, should be adjusted so as not to become one that consumes and centralizes all resources (technical and administrative). Also, the care provided by the relevant council departments, which, understandably, cannot then respond to or support the parades, riots, processions, proclamations, concerts in the town square, street parties, gatherings, celebrations, and other activities that complete the festive offerings on January 19th.

The success of participation should not depend on whether the scheduled performances are by a renowned group or artist, or whether the weather cooperates. The question that can help chart the course is clear: What kind of celebration do we want? Do we want one that depends solely on spectacle and occasional consumption, or one that strengthens community ties and popular participation? Perhaps there is no single clear answer, and it is necessary to balance both aspects of the question.

Brotherhoods

The recent emergence of the brotherhoods, Orgull Llonguet, Obreria, and other involved associations has demonstrated the public's willingness to participate directly in organizing all kinds of events. It has revealed that a segment of Palma's population is demanding the time and space that we must all provide to offer a kind of blank canvas on which to paint the present and future of Palma's festival model. One of the proposals that might seem most sustainable, given the balance between commitment and expenditure, would be the "thousand festivals" model. This model focuses on creating and strengthening initiatives that can move away from a centralized model, typically located in the city center, and instead plan events in areas or neighborhoods of Palma to which people feel connected. This model could be viable by facilitating collaborations between venues, bars, restaurants, and the organizing committees or teams of each of the thousand festivals that Palma could host. It would also be a good way to diversify the approach chosen in each area, enriching the festival program.

The feeling one is left with these days, bidding farewell to the San Sebastián festivities, is a mixture of all that has been deeply felt and the certainty that now, more than ever, we are part of a hopeful movement to strengthen the patron saint celebrations. It is a time to understand that the energy with which these proposals emerge is a reflection of the people who create them. The festival builds community, and the community fosters greater festive activity. Celebrating in the streets creates bonds, generates memories of the places we've experienced, and builds a collective memory. We must take part from our own spaces, freely participate, and remember that only what is lived truly loves.

Long live Palma and long live San Sebastián!